05.03.01 - Relative Provider Letter

To be paid by the State of Illinois to provide child care services, all providers who are exempt from licensing are required to have all required checks in the background check process.

As a relative provider, the background checks you are required to complete are:

A CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) check; and

A check of the Illinois and/or National Sex Offender Registries (SOR).

If care is given in your home, all household members who are 13 years and older must be cleared through CANTS and SOR too.

Everyone who is required to do a background check must:

Complete an Authorization for Background Check form and return it to the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R) listed below within ten (10) business days;

If you need more forms, you may make your own copies, or you may request more from the CCR&R.

Failure to complete and return the form(s) by [10 business days from date of issue] will result in the State denying you as a DHS-approved child care provider and no longer being able to pay you for providing child care services.

Please note the following procedures for challenges to the background check process results.

Challenges to CANTS findings must be made in writing to:

Department of Children & Family Services
State Central Register
406 East Monroe, Station #30
Springfield, IL 62701

Challenges to sex offender registry information may be made by contacting the Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registration Team at (217) 785-0653 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. NOTE: This team can only answer Sex Offender Registry questions - no others.

If you have any questions regarding this process, pleases contact the CCR&R listed below.